Scouring device



Jan. 19, 1960 E. J. GIBBONS 2,921,324

SCOURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1956 INVEN TOR.

EDWARD JAMES G'IBBON-S Unite States Patnt SCOURING DEVICE Edward JamesGibbons, New York, N.Y., assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, JerseyCity, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1956,Serial No. 563,227

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-134) The present invention relates to an improveddevice for scouring surfaces. More particularly the invention is of ascouring device for attachment to a container of scouring powder.

Commercial scouring powders are used in the home mainly for cleaningsinks, bathtubs, walls, floors and kitchen utensils. These powders areemployed almost universally for cleaning porcelain-surfaced sinks andbathtubs. In the usual cleaning operation the powder is sprinkled on thesurfaces to be cleaned, with sufficient moisture being present to enableformation of a thin paste and is then rubbed against the surface with adamp cloth or sponge. I

The present invention provides an attractive inexpensive functionalattachment for a scouring powder container whereby a scouring member andpowder dispensing container may be combined in a unitary cleansingdevice. The structure, function and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a non-elected form, the scouring attachmentafiixed to a scouring powder container;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device of Fig. l, the upper portion beinga longitudinal section view along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a separated longitudinal section view along line 4--4 of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention attached toa scouring powder container;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section view along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a scouringattachment for a scouring powder container having an opening in an endfor dispensing the powder comprising a scouring member having a scouringface and a hole through said member, and means for removably holding thescouring member against the dispensing end of the container in selectedpositions of registry and non-registry of the opening in the containerend and the hole in the scouring member.

Referring now to the drawing, in which for purposes of illustrationseveral embodiments of a scouring attachment have been shown, thenumeral 11 designates a standard cylindrical scouring powder containerhaving a perforatable circular end 12 in which are holes 13 fordispensing the powdered contents 14.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a substantially flat scouring attachment 15 has ascouring face 16, a sealing face 17, and

holes 18 connecting these faces. The scouring member is preferably madeof resilient and flexible material adaptable to the shape of sinks, tubsand so forth. The scouring face 16 has radially extending raisedsurfaces or ribs 19 for better scouring contact with surfaces to becleaned. These flat narrow ribs are less in height than width. Thesealing face 17 is adapted to make Patented Jan. 19, 1960 waterandpowder-tight contact with container end 12. Holes 18 are ofapproximately the size of those of the container at the sealing end butare appreciably larger (about twice that diameter) at the scouring face.

Scouring member 15 has a collar portion 20 having resilient and flexiblewalls adapted to hold onto the external wall surface 21 of the scouringpowder container. The collar is made with its internal diameter atrelaxation less than the outside diameter of the container so that whenplaced on the scouring powder can it will grip the side wall of thecontainer and thereby hold the scouring member tightly against the canend.

The hole or holes in the scouring member are so located that they may beeither registered as shown or non-registered with respect to the hole(s)in the container end, thereby either permitting or preventing thepassage of powder, and Water. Rotation of the scouring member to changeregistry may be easily efiected. In some cases itmay be desirable tospring the collar 20 away from the container wall before turning.

A preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to thenon-elected form already described. Scouring member 22 is made ofresilient material and has a substantially flat scouring face 23 onwhich are rather evenly distributed a plurality of low hemisphericalprojections or knobs 24 to improve scouring action. Sealing face 25makes a tight seal with container end 12. Dispensing opening 26,connecting scouring surface 23 with sealing face 25 has a ledge portion27. A transverse hole or cavity 28 in scouring member 22 has within it astrap clamp member 29 having inwardly turned ends 30 adapted to grasphead 31 of container 11 and hold scouring member 22 to container end 12in sealing contact. Clamp 29 may be molded into scouring member 22 ormay be passed through hole 28 prior to the bending of one end 30. Theinwardly turned ends 30, when unstressed, are separated by a distanceless than the container diameter. When sprung open by the can they actto press clamp 29 toward, and scouring member 22 against container end'12. It will be noted that the scouring surface shown, while irregular,as are all sponge surfaces, is substantially flat, i.e., substantiallysmooth, having no unyielding pointed projections thereon, like the otherillustrated embodiments in this respect.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another scouring device of this invention is shown,this time with the scouring member holes out of registry with thecontainer openings. The illustrated scouring attachment is like that ofFigs. 3 and4 except for two modifications. Instead of a single materialof construction for the scouring member body the said body portion has asealing surface portion 32" of suitable composition, e.g., rubber,fastened to a scouring surface section 33 of material adapted forscouring, e.g., cellulose or plastic sponge. Through both materials is acone-shaped delivery passage 34.

The drawings illustrate scouring attachments for cylindrical cans ofscouring powder; however it is plain that the invention is alsoapplicable to other styles of containers, e.g., those of rectangularcross-section.

To use the invented scouring attachment one need only snap it onto aperforated end of a can of scouring powder, turn until the openings andholes are registered and commence sprinkling the powder onto dampenedsurfaces to be cleaned. After a sufficient amount of powder has beenapplied the cap is slid or rotated to a cut-off position and the powderis rubbed over the porcelain, the can body serving as a convenient meansfor holding the scouring surface and powder in contact with the fixtureto be cleansed. Should additional powder be necessary to complete thetask it is a simple matter to rotate the scouring attachment to the openposiion and add more, then continuing as before.

The dispensing holes in the scouring attachment do not fill with cakedscouring powder when the attachment is used properly. This isattributable to the enlarged portions of these holes near the scouringsurface. Scouring surfaces containing ribs or knobs also help preventsuch caking by keeping the exit holes of the'scouring member away fromthe surface to be cleaned and the paste thereon.

Many advantages attend the useof the invented scouring attachment. Nolonger is it necessary to have an unsightly wash cloth or brush aboutfor cleaning the bathtub. Instead, the scouring attachment becomes apart of the scouring powder container, making a neat attractive package.Being attached to the container it is always at hand when needed.

In cleaning large fixtures such as bathtubs it is often difficult toreach all portionsthereof with a cloth or sponge. The invented deviceswhen affixed to cans of scouring powder increase reach and decrease thenecessity for stretching, the can itself serving as a fhandle.

When the scouring attachment is in place ,on a can and in thenon-registered position in a preferred embodiment the can is sealed offby the attachment sealing surface so that it is waterand powder-tight.Thus, if held inverted or if dropped no powder will spill. If storedwhere subjected to water spray or splashing the-powder will be kept dryand free-flowing. The barrier over the openings in the can will alsodecrease the amount of moisture vapor entering the can and will help toprevent lumping of the powder in cans stored in humid atmospheres.

The present invention has been described inconjunc- 'tion with drawingsof specific embodiments thereof. The

invention is not limited to the specific embodiments given but, to thecontrary, it is obvious that numerous modifications may be made andequivalents substituted Without departing from the spirit of theinvention ongoing outside the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A scouring attachment for a cylindrical scouring powder containerhaving a circumferentially rimmed end and an opening in that end fordispensing powder. comprising a resilient scouring member having asubstantially flat scouring face adapted for scouring contact .withsurfaces to be cleansed, a sealing face, an opening inthe membercommunicating the scouring and sealing faces for dispensing the powderand a transverse hole through the member between the scouring andsealing faces,- and a resilient clamp member extending through thetransverse hole and having inwardly turned ends adapted removably tohold onto the container at the rim thereof and thereby rotatably to holdthe scouring member to the container in selected positions of registryand nonregistry of the opening in the container end andthe dispensingopening in the scouring member, the said inwardly turned ends of theclamp member, when unstressed, being at a distance from each other lessvthan the diameter of the container'and being adapted to press the clampmember toward, and the scouring member against, the container end whensaid inwardly turned ends are forced apart by afiixation of the scouringattachment to the container, and the aforesaid sealingface of thescouring member being adapted to make watertight and powdertight contactwith the containerend when the said opening and hole are non-registered.and

the scouring member is held against the container dispensing end,therebyvpreventing entrance of water into ,and passage of powder out ofsaid end of the scouring powder container.

4 2. A scouring attachment for a cylindrical scouring powder containerhaving a circumferentially rimmed end and an opening in that end fordispensing powder, cornprising a resilient scouring member having ascouring face adapted for scouring contact with surfaces to be cleansed,a sealing face, an opening in the member communicating the scouringand-sealing faces for dispensing the powder, and a resilient clampmember having inwardly turned end portions adapted removably to holdonto the container'at the rim thereof and thereby rotatably to hold thescouring member to the container in selected positions of registry andnon-registry of the opening in the container end and the dispensingopening in the scouring member, the said inwardly turned ends of theclamp member, when unstressed, being at a distance from each other lessthan the diameter of the container and being adapted to press the clampmember toward, and the scouring member against, the container end whensaid inwardly turned ends are forced apart by affixation of the scouringattachment to the container, and the aforesaid sealing face of thescouring member being adapted to make watertight and powder-tightcontactwith the container end when said opening and hole are non-registered andthe scouring member is held against the container dispensing end,thereby preventing entrance of water into and passage of powder out ofsaid end of the scouring powder container.

3. The scouring attachment of claim 2 in which the scouring surface ismade of synthetic sponge and the sealing surface is of suitable organicwaterproof sealing material.

4. A scouring attachment for a scouring powder container having a rimmedend and an opening in thabend for dispensing powder, comprising aresilient scouring member having a scouring face adapted for scouringcontact with surfaces to be cleansed, a sealing face, an opening in thesealingface for dispensing the powder, and a resilient clamp memberhaving inwardly turned end portions adapted removably to hold onto thecontainer at the rim thereof and thereby movably to hold the scouringmember to the container in selected positions of registry andnon-registry of the opening in the container end and the dispensingopening in the scouring member, said inwardly turned ends of the clamp.memher, when unstressed being at a distance from each other less thanthe distance across the'container and being adapted to press the clampmembertoward, and the scouring member against, the container end whensaid inwardly turned ends are forced apart byafiixation of the scouringattachment to the container, and the aforesaid sealing face of thescoun'ng member being adapted to make watertight and powder-tightcontact'withthe container end when the said opening and hole arenonregistered and the scouring member is held against the containerdispensing end, thereby preventingentrance of water into and passage ofpowderout ofsaid end of the scouring powder container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,074,522 Nelson Sept-.30, 1913 1,088,797 Smith Mar. 3, 1914 1,222,875Lerch Apr. 17, 1917 1,646,324 Stewart Oct. .18, 1927 1,969,905 SegalAug.-14, 1934 2,225,540 Tainton Dec. 17, 1940 2,574,601 Swanson Nov. 13,1951

